Drones flying over Air Force bases. Unidentified aerial systems evading detection. A homeland vulnerable to $1,000 weapons while billion-dollar jets sit powerless. This isn’t the script of a war-game thriller—it’s today’s reality. What it takes to defend the homeland.
In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, I sit down with General Glen VanHerck (Ret.), the former Commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and NORAD. With decades of experience flying F-15s, F-35s, and stealth bombers, General VanHerck has led America’s aerospace defense efforts at the highest level.
What he witnessed in his final years in command convinced him to speak out: America is not ready for today’s threats—let alone tomorrow’s.
Key Topics We Cover
- The Drone Threat: Why low-cost, off-the-shelf drones may be the single biggest risk to U.S. national security.
- Langley Air Force Base Incursions: The real story behind the drone swarms that evaded detection.
- The “Golden Dome” Initiative: America’s ambitious, Manhattan-Project-scale missile defense effort—and why it matters.
- Policy vs. Technology: Why bureaucratic gridlock is slowing innovation and putting the homeland at risk.
- Industrial Revitalization: How vocational education, AI, and re-shoring manufacturing are key to defending America’s skies.
Why This Matters
General VanHerck argues that the U.S. needs a layered, agile, and industrial-scale approach to air defense—one that combines cutting-edge technology with a revitalized defense industrial base.
This is a wake-up call for aerospace leaders, policymakers, and industry professionals: the threats are already here. The question is whether America can adapt fast enough. What it takes to defend the homeland
About Craig Picken
Craig Picken is the Managing Partner of Craig Picken Executive Search, a retained search firm focused on elevating leadership in aviation and aerospace. Since 2008, he has completed more than 400 senior-level searches across MRO, manufacturing, and services, partnering with premier OEMs, operators, financial organizations, and private equity sponsors.
A former Naval Flight Officer with over 100 combat missions and 325 carrier landings, Craig brings a unique perspective as the only executive recruiter in the industry who has flown, sold, and led P&L in aviation. Beyond recruiting, he is a speaker, executive coach, and host of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, where he highlights leadership insights from across the industry.